Page 40 of Kilted Hate

Magnus’s smile fell, and frowning, he stared at Domhnall across the table. “Ye dinnae mean that.”

Domhnall chuckled and shook his head. “O’ course I dinnae mean that. I just love watching yer reactions kenning ye can read me thoughts.”

Magnus heaved a sigh of relief and shook his head. “Dinnae say such things. If the lass heard ye, she’d be devastated. Besides, from what I gather, things seem tae be better between the two o’ ye.”

“They are. But it’s early days yet.”

“Aye. Therefore, giving ye plenty o’ time tae get better at talking tae her.”

Domhnall smiled. “Actually, our ride out today was enjoyable, before the attack, o’ course. She has courage.”

“That shouldnae surprise ye after the way she was when she first arrived. Any other lass approached by three men might have been shaking in her boots. Katherine, on the other hand, seemed tae have nay qualms at speaking her mind, despite any consequences.”

“Aye,” Domhnall chuckled a little, “she did, all right.”

“I ken these are nae exactly ideal circumstances, Domhnall, but I’m proud o’ ye fer handling them so well.”

“I’m nae sure I can agree,” Domhnall said, shifting his gaze to the game. “I dinnae think I’ve handled it well at all.”

“All right, then, ye’ve got better over the last couple o’ days,” Magnus reasoned.

“Maybe.”

A knock on the door cut the conversation short, and after Domhnall had called out for whoever it was to enter, Thora slipped into the room.

“What the devil are ye still doing up at this time o’ night?” Magnus said.

“I could ask ye the same question,” Thora quipped back.

Magnus grinned at her and Thora turned to look at Domhnall. “Katherine has fallen asleep in the library. Should we leave her there until the morrow?”

Standing from his chair, Domhnall shook his head. “Nay. I’ll come and lift her tae bed.” Turning to Magnus, he said, “I’ll be back in a while.”

But Magnus stood and shook his head. “Actually, I could dae with retiring mesel’. Besides,” he smirked knowingly, “ye might find yersel’ held up fer one reason or another.”

Domhnall grinned back and shook his head. “I highly doubt it.”

Upon reaching the library, he found Katherine on the chaise lounge with a blanket draped over her, Enya standing close by, as though keeping watch.

“We didnae want tae wake her,” Enya whispered, echoing the concerns of her sister.

“She cannae stay here,” Domhnall said, scooping her up in his arms. “If that fire goes out, she’ll be freezing in the morning. Ye both head off tae bed. I’ll tak’ care o’ her now.”

It was after Domhnall had climbed the wide staircase that Katherine began to stir, and then, as her eyes opened, she jumped with fright as she stared up at him.

“It’s all right,” he said, gazing down at her. “I’ve got ye.” His eyes lowered to the book that lay against her stomach. “And I brought yer book, so ye have something tae read ‘afore ye sleep.”

Even in the dully lit corridor, he could see her cheeks bloom. It made him smile, for as feisty as she was, Katherine was definitely the most innocent woman he knew. Well, apart from his sisters, but they didn’t really count.

With her cheeks still red, Katherine looked up at him. “What are you doing?”

“I’m playing the fiddle. What does it look like I’m doing?” he quipped back playfully. He continued down the corridor, and then said, “Thora came tae tell me ye were sleeping. Ye’ve had a rough day. I’m carrying ye tae yer bedchamber.”

“I can walk, you know.”

He dropped his gaze once more and piercing her with his eyes, he said, “I ken.”

Once in her bedchamber, he made his way to the bed and lowered her slowly to her feet. The last time he had been so close to her had been the day she had arrived, the day they had travelled to the castle together on horseback. Back then, he had been too frustrated at her antics to notice anything else. Now, however, his senses captured the soft aroma that emanated from her, and Domhnall felt other parts of himself reacting.

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